[Date: Nineteenth July
Time: 4: 00 pm
Location: a mansion within the woods]

The house stood shrouded in darkness, an eerie silence settling over the stillness of the night. Despite the lingering glow of the fading sun, the door faced the night sky, enveloped in an ominous blackness that seemed to swallow the surrounding area whole.

A lone figure made her way towards the still silhouette lying on the wooden floor, her steps heavy with trepidation. With a trembling hand, she knelt beside the figure, her heart pounding in her chest as tears of anger streamed down her cheeks.

"Miyasi. Come on. You can't be dead! What the heck!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the empty room.

Suddenly, a voice pierced the silence, a voice the girl didn't recognize. She froze, her eyes widening in fear as she scanned the dimly lit room. Clad in her school uniform—a white shirt, red checkered skirt, and red blazer—she braced herself for whatever lay ahead.

"I don't think she is dead either," the voice remarked, sending a shiver down the girl's spine.

With a surge of adrenaline, she leaped to her feet, her guard instantly raised. Gripping the blade in her hands, she commanded her unseen assailant to reveal themselves.

"Who is it? Who is there?! Hanae! Leiko! Einosuke!! Go check right now!" she barked, her fury palpable.

The voice persisted, undeterred by her demands. "Who is Haruko? You?" it inquired, drawing closer with each step.

The girl's heart raced as she struggled to make sense of the situation. "Why do you care! Who the heck are you?! How did you enter!! Show yourself!!" she demanded, her voice trembling with fear and anger.

Unseen to her, Kavei sighed softly, knowing that the darkness concealed his presence from view. With a flick of his hand, he illuminated the room, casting light on the mysterious figure before her.

Their eyes met, and the girl's gaze hardened as she assessed the stranger before her. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice laced with suspicion.

Kavei met her gaze evenly, unfazed by her hostility. "Someone who just found out your little secret," he replied casually, his demeanor calm and collected despite the tension that hung in the air.

As Henkai relayed the grim details to the police, a sense of urgency filled the room. Miyasi's kidnapping by her own bullies—Haruko, Hanae, Einosuke, and Leiko—sent shockwaves through the community. The truth emerged as a disturbing tale of cruelty and betrayal.

The bullies had taken Miyasi to a secluded mansion in the woods, intending to subject her to unspeakable abuse. But as night approached, their fear overtook their cruelty, and they fled, leaving Miyasi alone and defenseless.

For six agonizing days, Miyasi endured hunger and despair, her survival hanging by a thread. In a stroke of luck, she discovered sustenance in the leaves of potted plants within the mansion, a small reprieve from her ordeal.

Meanwhile, Kavei's intuition had led him to suspect Miyasi's bullies from the start. Their suspicious behavior only confirmed his suspicions, and as he pieced together Miyasi's coded messages, the truth became clear.

The initials "HA" signified the house where Miyasi was held captive, "SOS" pleaded for salvation from her tormentors, and "HELP" implicated her bullies in her desperate plight. Miyasi's ingenious code had masked her cries for help, a testament to her resourcefulness and resilience in the face of danger.

Despite the odds stacked against her, Miyasi's gamble paid off when her case caught the attention of Kavei and Itsuhara. With their intervention, Miyasi's ordeal finally came to an end, and justice was served to those responsible for her suffering.

After a long day of filling out reports and unraveling the details of Miyasi's harrowing ordeal, Kavei felt a sense of exhaustion weighing heavily upon him. Yet, amidst the fatigue, one thought persisted in his mind: he needed to check on Miyasi.With a determined resolve, Kavei made his way to Saira's home, where Miyasi was staying under the care of her trusted friend. As he approached the familiar doorstep, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation mingled with trepidation.

As Kavei stepped into the living room, he was met with a scene of emotional turmoil. The girls, Saira and Miyasi, sat together on the couch, their faces streaked with tears, their bodies trembling with the weight of their shared ordeal. Despite the police cars still parked outside and the open doors indicating ongoing discussions with the authorities, the atmosphere inside the house was one of somber reflection.

"Thank you so so so much, Kavei! You are an amazing detective!" Saira exclaimed through her tears as she caught sight of him.

Kavei chuckled softly, a modest smile playing on his lips. "Haha. Miyasi-san is a smart female. She was found thanks to herself," he replied, his tone humble yet sincere.

Miyasi shook her head, her expression one of quiet gratitude mixed with lingering disbelief. "It wasn't all that," she began slowly. "You deciphered it after all. I typed whatever I could think of to deceive their eyes... I guess they were dumb enough to not notice.. or I was just lucky.."

"Whatever it is, it is in the past now. Forget it," Kavei reassured her, his gaze softening with genuine concern. "Saira here cried her eyes out for you. And believe it or not. So did your parents."

Miyasi's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of her parents, a flicker of hope dancing in their depths. "My parents..?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kavei nodded solemnly. "Yeap. You should clear your family misunderstandings. I'll be leaving now. Be safe," he said, turning to leave.

But before he could take another step, Miyasi sprang off the couch, her voice calling out after him with a sense of urgency. "Kavei-kun!"

Turning back to face her, Kavei's eyes met hers, his expression curious yet attentive. "Yes?" he prompted gently.

"Thank you. Detective," Miyasi uttered softly, her words hanging in the air like a profound revelation.

Silence fell upon the room, thick with unspoken emotions and lingering uncertainties. Kavei didn't meet Miyasi's gaze, his thoughts racing with introspection and determination.

Hearing Miyasi refer to him as a detective stirred something deep within Kavei's soul—a bittersweet realization that left him grappling with a newfound sense of purpose and responsibility. Was Aroshi, his missing friend, also kidnapped for trivial reasons like this? Was she out there somewhere, leaving clues behind in the hopes of being found? The thought haunted him, driving him to make a solemn vow.

"I definitely will," Kavei whispered to himself, his resolve solidifying with each passing moment. "I will find out what happened to Aroshi. And not just her. Even Daichi. And maybe others while I'm at it. I definitely will."

The atmosphere in the room was heavy with unspoken emotions, the weight of the recent events pressing down on each of them. Kavei broke the silence with a question that caught Miyasi off guard, a question she hadn't expected him to ask so soon. "Miyasi-nee. I have one question. When did the bullying begin?"

Miyasi took a deep breath, her eyes searching Kavei's face for any sign of judgment or pity. But she found none. His expression was polite, yet empathetic, silently urging her to share only if she felt comfortable doing so. With a nod, she motioned for him and Saira to take a seat beside her on the couch, preparing herself to open up about a painful chapter of her life.

"After the spring breaks..," she began, her voice soft yet steady. "Those four didn't like it that even though I didn't talk much, a very rich girl befriended me. Saira is wealthy, beautiful, smart, and has influence. Haruko had her eyes on Saira for some time now. But it all changed the minute Saira approached me."

Saira's lips trembled with regret as she muttered, "So.. it was all my fault.." Miyasi immediately reached out and grabbed her hands, shaking her head gently. "No Saira. Honestly, I guess it was just supposed to happen. Maybe I was supposed to get bullied, to have this life. Maybe I was supposed to get kidnapped because look what I found out of it. The love of my parents and the love of my best friend."

A warm smile graced Miyasi's lips as she looked at Saira, her eyes shimmering with gratitude and affection. Her words broke Saira's resolve, and she collapsed into Miyasi's embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks.

While Miyasi comforted her friend, she turned her gaze to Kavei, who met her eyes with understanding and compassion. She nodded at him, silently conveying that she wasn't finished speaking yet. "Maybe the police weren't supposed to find me so that a competent detective like Kavei could. I guess everything is just supposed to be. Both Kavei and me helped each other at the end of the day."

As Miyasi looked at him with empathetic eyes, Kavei sensed that she had said all she needed to say. He leaned back on the couch, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he muttered, "You are an awfully optimistic person."

The room fell into a peaceful silence, allowing time for Saira to collect herself, her tears drying as she sat up straight, her eyes still filled with remnants of sorrow and guilt. Miyasi sensed her friend's inner turmoil but refrained from prying, giving Saira the space she needed to process her emotions.

Saira moved closer to Miyasi, linking arms with her and resting her head on her shoulder, finding solace in her friend's comforting presence. Meanwhile, Kavei took a moment to himself, emotionally distancing himself from the girls as he grappled with his own thoughts and feelings.

Amidst the quiet, Miyasi's voice broke through the stillness, addressing Kavei with a sense of understanding. "But I guess it brought you to a decision, Kavei-kun," she remarked, her words prompting him to reflect on the path that lay ahead.

"A decision? Right.. it did.." Kavei murmured, his thoughts racing as he contemplated the significance of his newfound resolve.

"What is it?" Saira asked, her eyes flickering with curiosity and concern.

"I guess I'm ready to find my friend now," Kavei mumbled, his voice tinged with determination.

"Your friend?" Saira inquired, her interest piqued by his cryptic statement.

"Yes, Saira-san. Remember how you mentioned listening to my story? Is the offer still up?" Kavei inquired, his eyes meeting Saira's with a mixture of gratitude and hope.

"Of course," Saira replied, her smile radiant with sincerity and support.

As we settled into Saira's room, surrounded by the soft hues of pink that adorned her walls and furniture, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me. It was as if her room was a sanctuary, a safe space where we could share our deepest thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment.

Seated in a circle on her bed, I began to recount the events of that fateful day, the day that had haunted me for years. I spoke of Aroshi, her bright smile and infectious laughter, and how she failed to show up the day after our planned outing. The worry and panic that gripped us as we rushed to the police station to file a report, hoping against hope that she would be found safe and sound.

I shared details about Aroshi's parents, their anguish and desperation as they searched for their daughter, clinging to the hope that she would return home unharmed. And then, the heartbreaking moment when the case was closed, leaving us with more questions than answers.

But it wasn't just about Aroshi. I opened up about myself, my upbringing, my complicated family history. I spoke of the Swalens, the family who had raised me, loved me, and shaped me into the person I was today. And then there was Shiraka, my mentor, the one who had guided me further from there.

I didn't hold back, even sharing the truth about my current employment under Itsuhara, despite the risks involved. I spoke of Kai and the others.

As the words spilled from my lips, I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders. It was liberating to finally share my innermost thoughts and feelings with someone who understood, someone who listened without judgment.

Saira and Miyasi listened intently, their expressions a mix of empathy and concern. They didn't interrupt or offer platitudes; instead, they simply sat with me, offering their silent support and understanding.

By the time I finished, the room was filled with a sense of catharsis, as if we had collectively released the pent-up emotions that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long. And in that moment, I felt more determined than ever to uncover the truth about Aroshi's disappearance and bring justice to her memory.

"Gosh.. if this was a comic, you'd definitely be the main character, Kavei," Saira quipped, prompting Kavei's laughter.

He blinked a few times, his amusement evident as he chuckled heartily. The girls exchanged glances, puzzled by his sudden burst of laughter.

"Pfft haha. What the hell was that? Haha," Kavei managed to say between laughs, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Saira looked at him with concern, her worry palpable in her voice. "W-why are you laughing so much?"

Kavei quickly composed himself, realizing his laughter might have seemed out of place. "Nothing, nothing. Thanks for listening, you guys."

Miyasi offered a reassuring smile. "It's no big deal. We are happy we could assist in any way."

"Sure. I should call you guys Neechan, huh. It was good to know you guys. See you around," Kavei said, rising to leave.

"Sure, Kavei. We will be here if you ever need us," Saira waved as Kavei made his way towards the door.

However, just as he reached the spiral stairs and began to descend, he heard Miyasi's voice calling out behind him, loud and urgent. "Kavei! Wait! Stop!"

"Yeah? What's up?" Kavei asked, turning around with one leg on one step and the other over the next. Miyasi held onto the white rails with both her hands as she spoke, her expression serious yet determined.

"I was thinking.. since you have decided to dig deeper into the case about your friend... can we help you?" she inquired, her voice tinged with sincerity.

Kavei's brows furrowed slightly as he considered her offer. "Help me?"

"This time. You want to do this right? We won't help you investigate if you don't want that. But we can help you in many other aspects.. there are things to be pieced together, right?" Miyasi elaborated, her eyes reflecting her earnestness.

Her question brought a flurry of thoughts to Kavei's mind, each one racing at a speed he could barely process. However, it didn't take long before he framed a reply, his voice steady yet contemplative. "Miyasi Nee. Some things are just meant to be left alone," he began, his tone tinged with a hint of reluctance. "But as just some random kid, I do need some help. I might be able to deduce facts and events, but there are some things that are out of my reach. Information. Financial support. Medical support. Many things are needed."

Miyasi pondered over his response, her gaze thoughtful as she weighed his words. Before she could respond, Saira appeared from behind them, her presence injecting a sense of determination into the conversation. "Let's start somewhere and gather all the essentials along the way. If we don't get a move on, there's no point in having all these, right?"

"I see. Then, Miyasi Neechan. Saira Neechan. I request for your assistance," Kavei said solemnly, bowing respectfully to them.

Saira descended the stairs and stood beside Kavei, her expression determined. "And we accept your request," she declared firmly, echoing Kavei's seriousness.

Next: Main Case Arc